Should high schools require community service?

Parent Cafe
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<p><a href=“http://www.whatkidscando.org/research/youthactivism.html[/url]”>http://www.whatkidscando.org/research/youthactivism.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.servicelearning.org/resources/online_documents/research/status_s-l_us/index.php[/url]”>http://www.servicelearning.org/resources/online_documents/research/status_s-l_us/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>My daughters private school not only had service learning ( 200 hours) as a requirement for graduation, but as part of american govt class, they were required to work on a political campaign/ candidate- their choice.</p>

<p>[Although many students are introduced to volunteering because of the graduation requirement, teens in general are becoming more engaged with their communities, said Brian Elsner, program director of Teens in Public Service. The Seattle-based organization is paying 56 teens the minimum wage to work at local non-profit organizations this summer.</p>

<p>“The surprising part, I think for me, is how much they’re not just looking for any job,” he said. “Teens aren’t just looking to earn a paycheck for the summer. … They want to do social justice. They want to help with hunger or (the) homeless.”]( <a href=“http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/235747_lcenter09.html”>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/235747_lcenter09.html&lt;/a&gt;)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.learnandserve.org/about/role_impact/index.asp[/url]”>http://www.learnandserve.org/about/role_impact/index.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Teen_Life/Volunteering_and_Service/[/url]”>http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Teen_Life/Volunteering_and_Service/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;